President Donald Trump is set to attend the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) World Cup draw ceremony for the North and Central American region.
On Tuesday, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt officially confirmed Trump’s participation in the event.
The ceremony is scheduled to take place at 2:00 a.m. on December 6 at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.
Sources suggest that President Trump may not only attend but also deliver a speech, an unprecedented move for a host country’s leader at a World Cup draw ceremony.
The 2026 World Cup will be jointly hosted by the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. In a historic first, 48 nations will compete, divided into 12 groups of four teams each. Matches will be held across 16 cities: 11 in the U.S., 2 in Canada, and 3 in Mexico.
Representatives from 42 qualified countries will be present at the draw, including South Korea’s national team coach Hong Myung-bo, who will travel to the U.S. for the event. Following the ceremony, Coach Hong plans to inspect potential base camp sites and stadiums where group stage matches will be played.
South Korea, currently ranked 22nd in FIFA standings, has made history by securing a spot in Pot 2. This placement allows them to avoid early matchups against formidable opponents such as Croatia, Morocco, Colombia, Uruguay, Switzerland, Senegal, Ecuador, and Austria.